Water heater

ABSTRACT

A water heater includes a tank and a heating pipe. The tank has a water storage space therein. A bottom of the tank is provided with a cold water inlet and a circulation outlet. The tank is provided with a hot water outlet located at a position not less than one half height of the tank. The heating pipe is connected with a circulation pipe outside the tank to communicate with the circulation outlet. The heating pipe extends upward from the bottom of the tank into the water storage space. The heating pipe is provided with an opening facing sideways. The opening is located at a certain height of the water storage space. An outside of the heating pipe is provided with a heating device for heating the heating pipe.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a heating device, and more particularly to a water heater for heating water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional water heater, as shown in FIG. 3, has a tank 2 for storing water, a cold water pipe 21, a hot water pipe 22, and a heating device 23. Cold water flows from the cold water pipe 21 to the tank 2. The cold water is heated by the heating device 23 to form hot water. The hot water is stored in the tank 2. The hot water is output from the hot water pipe 22 when it is used.

However, in the above conventional structure, when a certain amount of hot water is taken, cold water is replenished into the tank 2 through the cold water pipe 21 and then mixed with the hot water in the tank 2, resulting in a decrease in temperature. On the other hand, since the heating device 23 heats all the water in the tank 2, it takes more time to heat the water to a desired temperature due to too much water. In this way, as long as cold water enters the tank 2, the temperature of the water in the tank 2 will be affected and cannot be maintained within a certain range. It is necessary to wait for a period of time for the water to reach the predetermined temperature. During this time, if the hot water is continuously output and the cold water is replenished, it is hard to rise the temperature of the water in the tank 2.

Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a water heater, which increases the water temperature by means of a circulating heating method, maintains the constant temperature of hot water, and outputs hot water stably.

In order to achieve the above object, the water heater of the present invention comprises a tank and a heating pipe. The tank has a water storage space therein. A bottom of the tank is provided with a cold water inlet and a circulation outlet. The tank is provided with a hot water outlet located a position not less than one half height of the tank. The heating pipe extends upward from the bottom of the tank to the water storage space. The heating pipe is provided with an opening facing sideways. The opening is located at a certain height of the water storage space. The heating pipe is connected with a circulation pipe outside the tank to communicate with the circulation outlet. An outside of the heating pipe is provided with a heating device for heating the heating pipe.

In an embodiment, the heating pipe extends upward in the water storage space to a position not less than one half height of the water storage space. The opening is located at the position not less than one half height of the water storage space.

In an embodiment, one end of the heating pipe is bent sideways to form a bent section. The opening is located at a distal end of the bent section.

In an embodiment, the cold water inlet is provided with a cold water control valve. The hot water outlet is provided with a hot water control valve. A water level sensing unit is provided in the water storage space and electrically connected to the cold water control valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the present invention when in use; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a conventional water heater.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a water heater in accordance with the present invention comprises a tank 1 having a water storage space 11 therein. The bottom of the tank 1 is provided with a cold water inlet 12 connected with a cold water pipe 121 so that external water can flow into the water storage space 11. The bottom of the tank 1 is provided with a circulation outlet 13 connected with a circulation pipe 131 so that the water in the water storage space 11 can be output through the circulation outlet 13. The tank 1 is provided with a hot water outlet 14 located at a first position not less than one half height of the tank 1. The hot water outlet 14 is connected with an output pipe 141 so that the water in the water storage space 11 can be output through the hot water outlet 14.

In this embodiment, the cold water inlet 12 is provided with a cold water control valve 122 for controlling the flow of water passing through the cold water inlet 12. The hot water outlet 14 is provided with a hot water control valve 142 for controlling the flow of water passing through the hot water outlet 14. In addition, a water level sensing unit 15 is provided in the water storage space 11 and is electrically connected to the cold water control valve 122. When the water level sensing unit 15 detects that the water level in the water storage space 11 is insufficient, the cold water control valve 122 is actuated to inject external water into the tank 1.

The bottom of the tank 1 is provided with a heating pipe 16. The heating pipe 16 is connected with the circulation pipe 131 outside the tank 1, so that the heating pipe 16 communicates with the circulation outlet 13. The heating pipe 16 extends upward in the water storage space 11. The distal end of the heating pipe 16 is provided with an opening 162 facing sideways. In this embodiment, the heating pipe 16 extends upward to a second position not less than one half height of the water storage space 11. The top end of the heating pipe 16 is bent sideways to form a bent section 161. The opening 162 is disposed at the distal end of the bent section 161. The outside of the heating pipe 16 is wrapped with a heating device 163. The heating device 163 is configured to heat the heating pipe 16.

With the above structure, when in use, as shown in FIG. 2, the water in the water storage space 11 is output from the circulation outlet 13 to enter the heating pipe 16 through the circulation pipe 131. The water is heated by the heating device 163 to rise the temperature, and then the hot water is output from the opening 162 to enter the water storage space 11 again. At this time, since the opening 162 faces sideways, the hot water is sprayed out sideways in a swirling flow state after hitting the inner wall of the tank 1 to flow upward and downward respectively. The water that flows upward helps the water molecules rub and collide with each other and maintain its temperature. The water that flows downward is mixed with the cooler water. Since the opening 162 is located at a third position not less than one half height of the water storage space 11, the water storage space 11 is divided into a cold water area 111 in the lower half and a hot water area 112 in the upper half. There is no physical boundary between the cold water area 111 and the hot water area 112. Based on the difference in the density of the cold water and the hot water, the cold water will sink and the hot water will rise, and therefore there is a convection phenomenon in the water storage space 11.

When the hot water is to be taken, the hot water can be obtained through the hot water outlet 14. Since the hot water outlet 14 is disposed at the first position not less than one half height of the tank 1, that is, in the hot water area 112 of the water storage space 11, it can be ensured that the obtained water is hot water.

On the other hand, when the water level in the water storage space 11 is insufficient, the external water, which is cold, is injected into the water storage space 11 through the cold water inlet 12. Since the cold water inlet 12 is located at the bottom of the tank 1, the cold water enters the cold water area 111 of the water storage space 11. The circulation outlet 13 is also located in the cold water area 111, so the cold water continuously sinks in the cold water area 111 and is discharged from the circulation outlet 13 nearby without rising into the hot water area 112. Accordingly, the present invention does not affect the temperature of the outputted hot water when replenishing the external water source.

In addition, the heating device 163 heats only the water in the heating pipe 16, and the temperature of the water in the pipe can be rapidly increased to a desired temperature due to the small amount of water in the pipe.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A water heater, comprising: a tank, having a water storage space therein, a bottom of the tank being provided with a cold water inlet and a circulation outlet, the tank being provided with a hot water outlet located at a first position not less than one half height of the tank; a heating pipe, extending upward from the bottom of the tank into the water storage space, the heating pipe being provided with an opening facing sideways, the opening being located at a certain height of the water storage space; the heating pipe being connected with a circulation pipe outside the tank to communicate with the circulation outlet; an outside of the heating pipe being provided with a heating device for heating the heating pipe.
 2. The water heater is claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating pipe extends upward in the water storage space to a second position not less than one half height of the water storage space; and the opening is located at a third position not less than one half height of the water storage space.
 3. The water heater is claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the heating pipe is bent sideways to form a bent section, and the opening is located at a distal end of the bent section.
 4. The water heater is claimed in claim 1, wherein the cold water inlet is provided with a cold water control valve, and the hot water outlet is provided with a hot water control valve.
 5. The water heater is claimed in claim 4, wherein a water level sensing unit is provided in the water storage space and electrically connected to the cold water control valve. 